Small Mario

Small Mario is Mario and Luigi's weakest form in the Mario platform games. He doesn't have any unique abilities and doesn't need any item to take this form. Instead Super Mario will turn into this form after taking a hit from an enemy. Mario will start most platform games in this form(Super Mario Bros. 2 is the only game where it is Super Mario).

If Small Mario is hit by an enemy, it will result in a loss of a life. If Mario is in the Super Mario form and gets hit, then he will shrink down to Small Mario and receive a temporary invulnerability for a few short seconds. This will allow him to run through enemies without being hit but can still die if time runs out or he falls into a pit. Small Mario will only become Super Mario if he uses a Super Mushroom. He can also turn into other forms if he gets them out of a box. Like in Super Mario World where he can hit a Green ! Block and receive a Cape Feather to turn into Cape Mario. If Mario gets hit while in Super Mario form after releasing a Fire Flower from the block and turns back to Small Mario, he can still grab the Fire Flower and turn into Fire Mario.

In Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool all start out the game with two hit points and in their Super form, regardless of the events in the previous level. Two Mushrooms are hidden in Subspace in each level, and they can increase their maximum hit points to four.

New Super Mario Bros. would see the Toads to be saved in the levels will become Small Toads if they are hit by an enemy. Bowser will turn small in the ending of Super Mario Galaxy 2 as a possible side effect for using the power of the Grand Star to make himself giant. He can be jumped on by Mario and Yoshi in this form.

In Super Mario 3D Land, when Mario is in the Small Mario form, he will not have his hat and only will regain it when he is in his Super form or other forms.